Top Performers: Richwoods vs Metamora

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional final night is one of the best 4-5 hours of the year in high school basketball.&nbsp; It lived up to it as always.&nbsp; The game I took in matched two of the titans from central Illinois in defending champs Metamora and state contender Peoria Richwoods.&nbsp; Richwoods jumped out fast especially in the second quarter leading 28-18 at half.&nbsp; Pushed to as many as 14 in the 3^rd quarter.&nbsp; The champs wouldn't go down without a fight!&nbsp; Metamora stormed back behind their three stars hitting some big threes getting to within 6 in the final minutes, but could never get closer as Richwoods won 61-55.&nbsp; Here is our look at the top prospects in the game with <strong>Top Performers: Richwoods vs Metamora</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157232' first='Lathan' last='Sommerville'] (Richwoods – 2024 – Rutgers)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sommerville wanted this one!&nbsp; Really bad!&nbsp; You could tell from the opening tip when on the first possession he powered in for an and-1 he was ready for the moment.&nbsp; Over and over again throughout the night he converted and-1s and got his opponents in foul trouble.&nbsp; Massive dunks and was relentless on the glass.&nbsp; His passing also stood out in this game as he dished out quite a few dimes with his passing out of the post to cutters and shooters.&nbsp; Outstanding all-around performance by the Rutgers commit who dropped 22 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978599' first='Tavie' last='Smith'] (Richwoods – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is the leader at the point for this team.&nbsp; His speed and burst off the bounce is so impressive.&nbsp; Acrobatic finishes at the rim finishing with bounce.&nbsp; This kid can go!&nbsp; He had 10 points.&nbsp; Pressure the ball and is a pest on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2104980' first='Jared' last='Jackson'] (Richwoods – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson had one of the best games we have seen from him all year long.&nbsp; The athletic shooting guard high-pointed rebounds among the trees.&nbsp; Rebounds very well for a guard.&nbsp; Force defensively with his aggressiveness.&nbsp; Offensively he won on spin moves and hit a three.&nbsp; The athleticism at the rim really stands out.&nbsp; He had 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598683' first='Daquan' last='Little'] (Richwoods – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Little is the third guard and was the x-factor.&nbsp; He out performed Metamora's x-factor and that was a big difference in this one.&nbsp; Little hit a pair of threes along with getting to the rim for 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157231' first='Cooper' last='Koch'] (Metamora – 2024 – Iowa)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Koch was excellent in his game.&nbsp; He showed what makes him so intriguing at the next level.&nbsp; The Iowa commit is a skilled four that can play inside and out.&nbsp; Floater early to get things started.&nbsp; Right handed hook shot, runners, put backs, and threes.&nbsp; Also really passed it well all night long.&nbsp; Had several blocks along with 24 points.&nbsp; His game translate so well to what successful Iowa players have done in the past.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750712' first='Tyler' last='Mason'] (Metamora – 2024 – Winona State)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Winona State signee is an athletic shooting guard that hit a three early and scored on a back cut.&nbsp; Got to the line at a good clip in this game as well.&nbsp; His ability to make shots while attacking the basket and playing in a system will be so valuable at the D2 level.&nbsp; Finished career with 12 points in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545146' first='Matthew' last='Zobrist'] (Metamora – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zobrist is among the top junior wings in the state.&nbsp; He started off a bit slow, but got it going in the second half from deep.&nbsp; The lefty sniper drained a trio from deep including a couple that got Metamora back in the game.&nbsp; Shooters with size that can pass off a live dribble like him are so valued at the next level.&nbsp; He had 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->